Nike EYBL Dallas (Saturday): Nightrydas close in on Peach Jam berth

<p>Nightrydas Elite came to Dallas for the final regular-season session of Nike EYBL knowing it would need at least a couple of Ws to feel good about securing a spot in July's Peach Jam.</p> <p>Saturday, the Florida-based travel program accomplished just that, posting a morning victory over Illinois' MeanStreets, 74-72, before running away from E1T1 United, 109-82, to end the day.</p> <h3>What's it mean?</h3> <p>Nightrydas now sits at 7-4 and is in fourth place in the Division A standings, just one game out of second place heading into Sunday's final two games. Phenom University, out of Wisconsin, tops Division A at 10-1, followed by New York's PSA Cardinals and Vegas Elite at 8-3. Overall, 12 of the 40 EYBL teams have better than 7-4 records. The top 20 records, plus wild cards, will make the July 10-14 Peach Jam.</p> <h3>Barnes triple-double</h3> <p><strong>Scottie Barnes</strong>, out of Davie University School, has had a sensational stop in Dallas. The Nightrydas' 6-foot-8 2020 went for a triple-double against E1T1. Barnes canned 11 of his 16 field-goal attempts en route to a 23-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist performance. He normally makes a lot of hay at the free-throw line, but did not take a single free throw in the 27-point blowout. Barnes scored 28 points in the win over MeanStreets and had 32-8-6 in the Friday loss to Phenom.</p> <h3>Big-time firepower</h3> <p><strong>Isaiah Todd</strong>, who shot 11 of 15 for 24 points vs. Phenom on Friday night, came back with a double-double effort against E1T1. The highly-touted 6-10 2020 forward connected on 12 of his 20 field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, to finish with 28 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.</p> <h3>Second-half show</h3> <p>Nightrydas controlled the entire game vs. E1T1, but led just 23-18 after one and 43-40 at the half. Nightrydas put on a show in the second half with 2020 <strong>Dudley Blackwell</strong>, Todd and Barnes all putting down spectacular high-wire dunks. The squad pulled away with a 31-point third quarter and 35-point fourth period. The 6-6 Blackwell -- who won two state championships at Westminster Academy and is now at Huntington Prep -- added 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and 6-0 2020 guard <strong>Kameron Woods</strong> had 21. Nightrydas did this damage without 6-10 2021 <strong>Moussa Diabate</strong> or <strong>Antwan Burnett</strong> (ankle).</p> <h3>Wright leads E1T1</h3> <p>It's been a tough go for E1T1 this spring. The short-handed club fell to 0-11 on the travel circuit. 2020 guard <strong>Ricardo Wright</strong> -- who wears No. 24 -- led E1T1 with 24 points. Wright was impressive from the outside with four 3-pointers. <strong>Marcus Niblack,</strong> the 6-2 guard out of Wildwood, added 15 points and 6-8 <strong>Giancarlo Rosado</strong> (Palm Beach Lakes High) had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.</p> <p><em>If you have travel or high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com</em></p>